Careers Programme
Careers Education, Information and Guidance Programme (CEIAG)
Careers Education Information and Guidance is an important part of preparing young people for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life. A planned programme of activities supports the students in choosing pathways at key transition points that suit their interests and abilities and helps them to work towards a career path and sustainable employment.
Our programme empowers young people to plan and manage their own futures. We acknowledge that availability of information is a key factor in career choice and pathway decisions. It raises aspirations, promotes equality, diversity, social mobility, challenges stereotypes and supports young people to achieve personal and economic well-being throughout their lives.
We are committed to fulfilling the Government statutory requirements which state that “Section 42A of the Education Act 1997 requires governing bodies to ensure that all registered students at the school are provided with independent careers guidance from year 8 (12-13 year olds) to year 13 (17-18 year olds).” Careers guidance must be presented in an impartial manner and promote the best interests of the student to whom it is given. Careers guidance must include information on the range of education or training options, including apprenticeships and technical education routes.
At Laureate Academy, a Personal Adviser in school from YC Hertfordshire is in school on one or two days per week and is available to all students for one-to-one guidance. Every student in year 11 is offered an individual meeting with the Personal Adviser, and meetings are arranged for other targeted students throughout the year.
We look for and promote opportunities to collaborate with partners to support the programme to help students move on to positive, suitable and sustained destinations.
A school careers fair is held once a year, in the evening so that parents can attend to support their child with their career decisions.
There is a stable programme of Careers Education, delivered in tutor times, in assemblies, on off-timetable Enrichment Days, and through other occasional events in the school year.
Year 7
In Year 7, our focus is adapting to a new community and learning about the wide range of employment opportunities on offer.
Students will have the opportunity to hear from a range of visiting speakers, broadening their horizons, as well as to participate in an enterprise activity, developing their teamwork, communication, and problem-solving abilities. They will start to visit universities, and also have the opportunity to attend the school’s Careers Fair.
There are also opportunities to perform in musical or theatrical productions, with the aim of developing confidence and presentation skills.
Year Group | Content | Objectives | Measurable Outcomes |
Year 7 I Discover |
Tutor Time Lessons. ● All about me ● What is work? ● Skills vs qualities ● Understanding personal strengths & weaknesses ● Stereotyping ● Working hours and job descriptions |
Tutor Time Lessons. ● All about me ● What is work? ● Skills vs qualities ● Understanding personal strengths & weaknesses ● Stereotyping ● Working hours and job descriptions |
● To identify qualities and skills ● To complete a basic personal statement |
Planned Activities;
Please note, activities or dates are subject to change due to the circumstances surrounding Coronavirus – you will be updated immediately regarding any changes.
- Tutor Time Lessons and assemblies throughout the year based on the curriculum above.
- Career talks with professionals from multiple sectors throughout the school year.
- Career skills and IT workshops Enrichment Day One.
- Careers Evening.
- University Trip to Oxford or Cambridge Enrichment Day Two.
Year 8
In Year 8, our focus is on helping students to develop their independence skills.
They will have the chance to take part in a shadowing experience, immersing themselves in the world of work and starting to find inspiration for their future careers. Students will learn about different post-16 and 18 pathways as well as learn how to use Labour Market Information to make informed choices.
At Laureate, we are keen to promote careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).To raise awareness and promote a wider range of options, therefore, students will also take part in STEM activities.
In addition, students go on a residential trip, taking part in exciting and challenging tasks that will develop their resilience and risk-taking capabilities.
Year Group | Content | Objectives | Measurable Outcomes |
Year 8 I Explore |
Timetabled Lessons ● What do I want from work? ● Local Market Information (LMI) ● Progression Routes available (education, training, apprenticeships) ● Is it for me? Entry requirements ● How do I make decisions? ● Research - validity & bias ● Research job roles specific to you |
● To explore routes and pathways available ● To relate these pathways to their decision making |
● To identify different pathways, post 16 and post 18 – What will I study? What options do I have? ● To begin to research ● To understand that bias exists. |
Planned Activities;
Please note, activities or dates are subject to change due to the circumstances surrounding Coronavirus – you will be updated immediately regarding any changes.
- Tutor Time Lessons and assemblies throughout the year.
- Career talks with professionals from multiple sectors throughout the school year.
- Career skills and STEM workshops in Enrichment Day One.
- Careers Evening.
- Work Shadowing Day with parents for Enrichment Day Two.
Year 9
In Year 9, our focus is on starting to refine students’ individual aspirations and pathways.
They will embark on a process of self-assessment, explore different career paths, and consider their options for Key Stage 4. We host an options assembly, a parents’ evening, and a meeting with a member of the Senior Leadership Team to help students make these crucial decisions.
Students will take part in a speed networking event with industry and business experts, attend the Careers Fair and use career-planning software to receive individualised recommendations for their careers. Students will also begin to explore future finance education including budgeting, payslips and sources of finance.
At Laureate, we pride ourselves on giving students as many opportunities in the wider world as possible. We aim to take students on a City Walk through London to speak with and explore a variety of industries in the city.
Year Group | Content | Objectives | Measurable Outcomes |
Year 9 I Focus |
● Local Market Information (LMI) ● Developing skills ● Money matters; ● To know what their choices are. ➢ Budgeting ➢ Wages & salaries ➢ Payslips ➢ Sources of finance ● To make informed option choices ● To select options relevant to their needs. |
● To focus research and visits to meet individual needs ● To be aware of all routes available ● To be prepared to make appropriate option choices |
● To gain experience of all subject choice before making decisions. ● To understand the routes available. |
Planned Activities;
Please note, activities or dates are subject to change due to the circumstances surrounding Coronavirus – you will be updated immediately regarding any changes.
- Tutor Time and Assemblies scheduled throughout the year based on Careers development. Two Career lessons in tutor time every half term and one assembly.
- Career talks with professionals from multiple sectors throughout the school year.
- Enrichment Day One – skills building, careers planning and confidence workshops. Speed Networking interviews.
- Careers Evening.
- Year 9 Options Evening.
- Enrichment Day Two – City Walk.
Year 10
In Year 10, we focus on developing employability skills and work-related learning in preparation of work experience.
Students take part in a week’s worth of work experience, supported with preparation beforehand and reflection afterwards to help them develop further appreciation about employment and their future careers. They will attend the Careers Fair and make use of career-planning software to hone down their individual goals, skills, and aptitude, and record their own progress.
Additionally, employability sessions are held, which help to develop students’ understanding of employer expectations, interview skills, and best practice in writing effective CVs.
Year Group | Content | Objectives | Measurable Outcomes |
Year 10 I Plan |
Building My Skills Programme ● BMS 1 - My pathway ● BMS 2 - Personal Finance ● BMS 3 - Online appearance ● BMS 4 - Job applications ● BMS 5 - Preparing for Interviews |
● To plan their future by focussing their decisions. |
● Complete Building My Skills programme. ● Prepare a CV.
|
Planned Activities;
Please note, activities or dates are subject to change due to the circumstances surrounding Coronavirus – you will be updated immediately regarding any changes.
- Tutor Time and Assemblies scheduled throughout the year based on Careers development. Two Career lessons and one assembly will occur every half term.
- Career talks with professionals from multiple sectors throughout the school year.
- Enrichment Day One - skills building, careers planning and confidence workshops – including debate skills, presentation skills and team building.
- Careers Evening.
- Work Experience.
- Post Work Experience Award Ceremony Assembly.
Year 11
In Year 11, the focus shifts to post-16 options and applications.
Students will consider the pathways open to them, such as Sixth Form, Further Education Colleges, and Apprenticeships, and armed with this information, they begin to make their choices. All students will receive information about their post-16 choices at information sessions, with the chance to visit universities, colleges, or future apprenticeship employers. There will be focus particularly on interview techniques, to be used for either colleges, sixth form, university, apprenticeships or part-time jobs.
They will continue to have access to Careers Fairs, career-planning software, and further individual guidance from a Personal Careers Advisor. Moreover, students are encouraged to participate in the highly rewarding NCS programme (National Citizen Service) during the summer after their GCSEs.
Year Group | Content | Objectives | Measurable Outcomes |
Year 11 I Decide |
Guidance ● Personal guidance interviews ● Research options ● Make decisions |
● To decide what they are going to do post 16 and apply for this. |
● Connexions interviews. ● Applications to education, apprenticeship or training course.
|
Planned Activities;
Please note, activities or dates are subject to change due to the circumstances surrounding Coronavirus – you will be updated immediately regarding any changes.
- Tutor Time and Assemblies scheduled throughout the year based on Careers development. Two Career lessons and one assembly will occur every half term.
- Career talks with professionals from multiple sectors throughout the school year.
- Into Year 11 Day – Students will receive mock exam results in the style of GCSEs results day, they will participate in A Level lessons, receive workshops in budgeting, students finance and more.
- Enrichment Day One - skills building, careers planning and confidence workshops – including debate skills, presentation skills and team building. Students will participate in a college visit and a talk with apprenticeship specialists.
- Careers Evening.
- Optional Work Experience during half term – as students missed year 10 work experience after the Coronavirus, students can volunteer to participate in a voluntary work experience during half term. They are welcome to come and speak with Mrs Seller who will help facilitate this.
- Post-16 Evening. Talks with colleges, apprenticeships and our sixth form team.
Sixth Form
Our focus in the Sixth Form is to develop our students’ ability to access Further Education, Higher Education or Employment, as per their personal requirements.
Students receive personalised support from a Personal Careers Advisor, and have continued access to the Careers Fair and career planning software. In the summer term of Year 12, we host an ‘Employability Week’: this is an in-school programme which includes a mock interview day with students travelling to external local companies. Students are also supported and encouraged to research and organise their own work experience placements.
For those wishing to apply for Further Education routes, support is given with their UCAS applications through visits to the UCAS university convention, visits to leading universities including Oxbridge, and access to an Autumn and Summer School Programme based at the University of Hertfordshire. Guidance is also given for those wishing to apply for alternative opportunities, such as apprenticeship schemes or the Nuffield Foundation placement scheme, which focusses on providing opportunities for young people to gain STEM experience from industry specialists.
For the entrepreneurially-minded, there is the opportunity to participate in coordinating with our Careers Coordinator to arrange events including the marketing, advertising, arranging and coordinating of the events. As well as regular support in planning to provide resources and experiences to help prepare as much as possible before the end of school.
Year Group | Content | Objectives | Measurable Outcomes |
Year 12 I Research |
Enrichment - Timetabled Lessons or 4 drop down days ● Routes ➢ HE & FE ➢ Employment ➢ Apprenticeships ● Skills & Qualities ● Research Skills ● Finance |
● To research post 18 options. |
● To research routes available. ● To find out about and develop independence skills.
|
Year 13 I Prepare |
Enrichment - Timetabled Lessons or 4 drop down days ● Applications ➢ UCAS ➢ Employment ➢ Apprenticeships ● Finance ● Life Skills |
● To prepare for their transition to education or employment. |
● Complete applications. ● Make plans. |
Planned Activities;
- Tutor Time and Assemblies scheduled throughout the year based on Careers development. Two Career lessons and one assembly will occur every half term.
- Visitors. Every two weeks throughout sixth form we invite external speakers from a variety of industries (charities, businesses, politics) to speak with and inspire students during assemblies.
- Enrichment Day One - skills building, careers planning and confidence workshops – including debate skills, presentation skills and team building. Students will participate in a college visit and a talk with apprenticeship specialists.
- Careers Evening.
- Broadening Horizons Week – students will participate in off-site interviews in offices of local companies. They will be expected to apply, research and prepare for the role as well as organise their own travel and time management. Students will participate in a residential trip to visit both Bath and Bristol University. Exploring the sites as well as staying in University Halls. Students will talk UCAS, apprenticeships and work with various visitors.
- Work Experience.
- UCAS trip.
- Houses of Parliament Trip.
Enrichment Provider Access Requests
We are interested to hear from providers who could offer opportunities relevant to students’ progression and information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point, technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities.
A provider wishing to request access should contact Alice Seller, our Education Enrichment Co-ordinator.
To contact her, please use these contact details.
Tel: 01442 404333, extension 4450
Email: a.seller@laureate.futureacademies.org
Alternatively, contact Nick Berman, the Head of Education Enrichment at Future Academies.
Tel: 020 7828 0881 ext. 547
Email: nick.berman@futureacademies.org
As part of the school’s Careers Programme, providers will have the opportunity to come into school to speak to students, and their parents or carers. The school will set up the main hall, classrooms or private as meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. Arrangements must be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Education Enrichment Co-ordinator or a member of the school team.
Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature at the Careers Office.
The information on this page is kept under regular review. The next full review is scheduled for June 2021.